Nepeta plant named ‘Balneplud’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Nepeta  plant named ‘Balneplud’, characterized by its medium violet-blue colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Nepeta hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Balneplud’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Nepeta plant botanically known as Nepeta hybrid and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balneplud’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Hem, the Netherlands during August 2015. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Nepeta cultivars having a long flowering season with an upright-mounded growth habit.

The new Nepeta cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is ‘Manchu Blue’, not patented, characterized by its medium violet-blue colored flowers having dark violet-colored calyxes, medium green-colored foliage, and vigorous, upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is ‘Blue Dreams’, not patented, characterized by its medium violet-blue colored flowers with medium violet-colored calyxes, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during July 2016 in a controlled environment in Hem, the Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since July 2016 in Hem, the Netherlands and Elburn, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balneplud’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Nepeta plant:

-   -   1. Medium violet-blue colored flowers;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Moderately vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in having more green-colored sepals, more compact growth habit and reduced growth vigor. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the male parent primarily in having darker violet-blue colored flowers and more a more compact growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Nepeta cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is Neptune ‘Bokratune’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,556. However, in side-by-side comparison, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Bokratune’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have lighter blue-violet colored         flowers than plants of ‘Bokratune’; and     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have larger flowers than plants of         ‘Bokratune’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balneplud’. The plants were approximately four months old. The plants were grown as three plants per pot in one-gallon containers for approximately 11 weeks in a greenhouse in Elburn, Ill. followed by 1 week in an open-sided polyhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch at approximately one week before transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balneplud’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an inflorescence of ‘Balneplud’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in June 2019 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately four-month old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown as three plants per pot in one-gallon containers for approximately 11 weeks in a greenhouse in Elburn, Ill. followed by 1 week in an open-sided polyhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch at approximately one week before transplant. Greenhouse temperatures in Elburn, Ill. were maintained at approximately 65° F. to 70° F. (18.3° C. to 21.1° C.) during the day and approximately 55° F. to 60° F. (12.8° C. to 15.6° C.) during the night. No supplemental lighting was provided. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Nepeta hybrid ‘Balneplud’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—‘Manchu Blue’, not patented.         -   Male parent.—‘Blue Dreams’, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 10 to 12 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 5 to 6             weeks.         -   Root description.—Fine to medium, fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 10 to 12 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 15 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Herbaceous perennial;             moderately vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit.         -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 5a (−20° F. to −15° F./−28.9° C. to             −26° C.).         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 27.0 cm. Width: Approximately 45.0 cm         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances lateral             branching. Quantity of branches per plant: Approximately 9.         -   Lateral branch.—Shape: Square in cross section. Strength:             Strong, flexible. Length to base of peduncle: Approximately             17.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm to 3.0 mm. Length of             central internode: Approximately 2.5 cm. Texture: Densely             pubescent with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular             hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of young             and mature stem: 146B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per branch:             Approximately 12. Fragrance: Moderate minty. Form: Simple.             Arrangement: Opposite.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Acute angle to stem with blade perpendicular             and tips slightly downward turning with age. Shape: Ovate.             Margin: Serrate with slightly rounded teeth. Apex: Acute.             Base: Rounded. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature             leaf: Approximately 5.5 cm. Width of mature leaf:             Approximately 3.0 cm. Texture of upper surface: Moderately             pubescent. Texture of lower surface: Densely pubescent.             Color of upper surface of young and mature foliage: Closest             to 137B to 137C with venation of 137A. Color of lower             surface of young and mature foliage: Closest to 147B with             venation of 147C.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 1.3 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a             mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color: 146C. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balneplud’ is a long-day obligate, freely             flowering blooming from late spring through summer under             outdoor growing conditions.         -   Lastingness of individual floret.—Approximately 6 to 7 days. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Terminal, dense, multi-flowered             head-like cyme. Quantity of open inflorescences per plant:             Approximately 10. Fragrance: None detected. Length or height             of inflorescence: Approximately 6.0 cm. Width of             inflorescence: Approximately 6.5 cm. Quantity of fully-open             flowers per inflorescence: Approximately 8 to 13.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length:             Approximately 2.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm.             Texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and             nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.             Color: 146B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Type.—Single, zygomorphic.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Clavate. Length:             Approximately 1.8 cm. Diameter: Approximately 7.0 mm.             Texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and             nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.             Color: 146C tinted with 91A.         -   Corolla.—Shape: Bilabiate with a bell-shaped tube, upper lip             of two lobes and lower lip having three lobes. Aspect:             Facing outward. Width: Approximately 1.1 cm. Length:             Approximately 1.8 cm. Depth: Approximately 3.0 cm.         -   Upper lip lobes.—Shape: Oblong. Margin: Entire. Apex:             Rounded. Length from throat: Approximately 6.0 mm. Width:             Approximately 5.0 mm. Texture of upper (inner) surface:             Glabrous. Texture of lower (outer) surface: Sparsely             pubescent with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular             hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of upper             (inner) surface when first and fully open: 90D. Color of             lower (outer) surface when first and fully open: N88C.         -   Lower lip, lateral lobes.—Shape: Ovate. Margin: Entire.             Apex: Rounded. Length from throat: Approximately 5.0 mm.             Width: Approximately 4.0 mm. Texture of upper (inner)             surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower (outer) surface:             Moderately glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless,             transparent. Color of upper (inner) surface when first and             fully open: N88C. Color of lower (outer) surface when first             and fully open: N88D.         -   Lower lip, central lobe.—Shape: Fan-like with a central             ridge. Margin: Crenate. Apex: Emarginate. Length from             throat: Approximately 7.0 mm. Width: Approximately 1.1 cm.             Texture of upper (inner) surface: Densely pubescent at             throat opening and on central ridge. Texture of lower             (outer) surface: Sparsely glandular pubescent. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color of upper (inner) surface when             first and fully open: NN155D with spots of 90A. Color of             lower (outer) surface when first and fully open: N88D.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 2.5 cm. Width at             opening: Approximately 1.0 cm. Width at base: 1.0 mm.             Texture of inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of outer             surface: Moderately pubescent with a mixture of glandular             and nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.             Color of inner surface: N88C to N88D. Color of outer             surface: 91A.         -   Calyx.—Shape: Funnel with 4 tips. Length: Approximately             1.1 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 4. Apex: Acute. Base: Fused.             Length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Width: Approximately 1.0 mm.             Texture of inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of outer             surface: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and             nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.             Color of inner surface: 147C. Color of outer surface: 146C             with an overlay of N186A on tips.         -   Pedicel.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: At an acute             angle. Length: Approximately 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm. Diameter:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a             mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color: 146C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 4 per             flower. Stamen length: Approximately 2.4 cm. Filament length             of free portion: Approximately 0.9 mm to 1.3 cm. Filament             color: N88D. Anther shape: Divergent, opening by a common             slit. Anther length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Anther color:             N89A. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: NN155D.             Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length:             Approximately 2.3 cm. Stigma shape: Bifurcate. Stigma             length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Stigma color: N88D. Style             length: Approximately 2.1 cm. Style color: NN155D with an             overlay of N88D near stigma. Ovary length: Approximately             1.0 mm. Ovary color: N144D. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Nepeta has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Nepeta plant named ‘Balneplud’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 